Flyfly/Sarasota

[susiebrown]

Flyfly,
Didn't I read in one of your posts that you live near Sarasota? I am going there for a conference following our trip to Orlando in a couple of weeks, and was wondering what to do while there. I am thinking that we'll mainly hit the beach, as we'll probably be worn out from our US/IOA adventures! Also, my DH will have DD's 10 and 14 for a good part of the time alone. What beach would be best and how far is it from the Sarasota Hyatt? Do you have any suggestions about places to eat? We'll be there for 3 days and 2 nights. Thanks!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm not FlyFly, but I can answer part of the beach question. Siesta Key is supposed to be wonderful. I was told that by several people before we went to Sarasota last April, but my DH's aunt had beach access at another place and I didn't want to make waves (pun intended ) and insist on going to Siesta Key. I should have because once we were there the aunt mentioned that the beach we were at wasn't that wonderful, but since she had access to it she thought is was the easiest to go to. Ugh, that was our only beach day and we spent it at a place that had ledge and got deep quickly. Oh, well, live and learn.

I can't really answer how far it was to where we went to to Siesta Key, but I'm sure someone can.

T&B

 

[Ripsaw]

These site's should be of some help. http://www.siestakeychamber.com/
http://www.sarasotafl.org/home.shtml

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I agree about Siesta Key beach. It's great! White sandy shore, clear blue waters...absolutely beautiful...far better than my local beaches!! You will be about 8 miles from it.

Sarasota Hyatt is VERY close to the Van Wezel Center...you can always see what's performing there. It's a nice small theatre. I've seen a couple of performances there during school fieldtrips.

Now, there are some decent retaurants my parents and I love down in that area. Can't remember their names right offhand, but I'll check with my mom and get back to you!!

 

[susiebrown]

Thanks, guys. Sounds like Siesta Key is the place to go, which is about what I gathered from reading info on the web. Flyfly, I'll check back later for the info on the restaurants.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

okay. There's one really nice restaurant we take one of my dad's friends. It has an indoors seating area, but the best is the deck with a beautiful view of the beach. It might be Marina Jack....but I'll check with my mom!!

And based on experience, yes Siesta Key has the whiest sand. No worry of the crcked shells while you are walking around!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Boy, FlyFly, you're really rubbing salt in my wound concerning NOT going to Siesta Key. Next time I'll tell my husband's aunt that we must go there! This April, after Universal, we are going to go visit my sister who lives in the panhandle of Florida (Fort Walton Beach) so no chance to go to Siesta Key this year.

T&B

 

[ironwood58]

No doubt siesta key is a beutiful beach. I lived there for several years. In fact it was rated as one of the top ten in the U.S. on the travel channel. Marina Jack does have a nice place to eat on the water not sure the name, and afterwards it is nice to walk down and check out all the yachts. About 5 miles towards the beach from marina jack is longboat key. Very upscale with restaraunts and shops they have several places to go. Your kids would love Mote Marine Aquarium lots of fish entertaining as well as educational my ds insists we go everytime back hope this helps.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

okay, so I WAS thinking of Marina Jack. I was hoping I wasn't making up names!!

I've never been to Mote Marine Aquarium, but I can tell it's quite nice b/c they brought down some creatures to Venice's Shark Tooth Festival before!!

 

[susiebrown]

Does anyone know anything about these restaurants:

Alley Cat Cafe
Sarasota Ale House
Chacha Coconuts
Moores Stonecrab
Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar

Any info is appreciated, especially re: atmosphere, pricing, kid-friendliness. Thanks again!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Mote aquarium is a nice place to bring kids. Not real big, but that can be a plus since it's not overwhelming.

The beach we went to wasn't far from Longboat Key and the aquarium, but go to Siesta Key!

T&B

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Though we have never been, but we have only heard good things about the Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar. It's a family restaurant feturing indoor and outdoor dining.

(My mom just got home and I asked her about the restaurant I was talking about earlier). Turns out it's in Bradenton, the town just North of Sarasota. I's called the Beach House. Decent food, but if you're on the deck, the atmosphere is GREAT! But again, it's a bit of a drive from Downtown Sarasota.

 

[ironwood58]

You probably went to tuttle beach. It is nice but not anything like siesta key. Phillippi Creek has great seafood and sits right on the water. The building does not look the greatest but it has excellent food. There are some nice places on St. Armands Circle which is close to Longboat Key.

 

[susiebrown]

Thanks again, everyone. It sounds like a great area with plenty to do (and eat!)

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by susiebrown
Thanks again, everyone. It sounds like a great area with plenty to do (and eat!)

Well, more than Venice at least!

 

[Ripsaw]

Some great food can be found at, http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/sarasota.asp
http://www.captaincurts.com/ my son's favorite.
http://www.marinajacks.com/trop.htm
and a nice place to shop and explore
http://www.starmandscircleassoc.com/

 

[Antonia]

I have been to Siesta Key and LOVED it! The sand was absolutely white! And soft. I still have some in a jar. I know - that seems a little strange.
How far is Siesta Key if we go there from Universal? How many miles or how long does it take to get there??
I would love to take my son in conjunction with a Universal trip. He was not with us when we were there and I want him to experience that wonderful beach.

 

[Ripsaw]

It takes about 2 hrs to drive down to Siesta. We are spending 3 days at USO, then 2 week's on the beach. We try to get down to Sarasota/ Siesta Key, every other year.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by Antonia
I have been to Siesta Key and LOVED it! The sand was absolutely white! And soft. I still have some in a jar. I know - that seems a little strange.

It doesn't really seem to strange to me, that is it doesn't if you are related to my mother! lol

T&B

 

[susiebrown]

I wish we could spend 2 weeks at the beach, Ripsaw! Maybe next time. Thanks for the links.